Former Brazilian football star Robinho, known for his prowess on the field, has faced a stark turn of events as he is arrested to begin serving a nine-year prison term for rape.
The 40-year-old, a former international player for Brazil, was convicted in Italy two years prior for his involvement in the gang rape of an Albanian woman at a nightclub in Milan back in 2013.
This arrest took place at his residence in Santos, his hometown. Despite efforts by the Italian authorities to extradite him, the Brazilian government opted to enforce his sentence domestically, at the request of Italy.
Robinho’s fall from grace underscores the serious legal consequences of his actions, tarnishing his once-glowing career in the world of football.
On Wednesday, a Brazilian court upheld the verdict, mandating Robinho to serve his prison sentence rather than being placed under house arrest, a decision reaffirmed by a Supreme Court judge the following day.
Brazil’s justice system’s resolute stance has earned acclaim from local media outlets, which had voiced concerns over the possibility of Robinho evading accountability due to his fame and wealth.
The former Brazilian international, boasting 100 caps for his nation, was a player for AC Milan at the time of the incident.
Following his conviction and subsequent failed appeal in 2020, Italy’s highest court affirmed his sentence in 2022, prompting Italian authorities to issue an international arrest warrant.
Robinho, who also had a stint with Manchester City, reiterated to a Brazilian network on Sunday that the encounter in question was consensual.
